Alternative Uses for Breast Milk. 28 Surprising Home Remedies.

Well all know how wonderful it is to feed your baby breast milk. Study after study has shown it is the truest of super-foods. Some however have found there are many other uses for this magical mommy juice. There are even hospitals using donated breast milk for patients outside of the NICU. Interested? Read on for the many uses of breast milk you may not have thought possible.

Author's disclaimer: I personally have not tried many of these. Not all have been medically tested and are considered "home remedies." These should not replace advise from a medical professional.

Breast Milk Storage

Store milk in a hard capped container to avoid spills and contamination.

Keep at room temperature (up to 77'F) for 6-8 hours.

Refrigerate for 5 days

Freeze for 3-6 months or 12 months in a chest freezer.

When storing place in the back of the refrigerator or freezer, not the door.

Thaw milk by placing in the refrigerator overnight or running warm water over the container. Do not microwave.

Do not mix old and new milk

Studies have shown that milk may loose some of it's healing properties if stored too long. If using milk for sick child or healing remedy try to use fresh milk.

-Information from the CDC

Eyes and Ears

1. Pink eye. Clean the eye with breast milk soaked cotton and use a dropper to add more breast milk into they eye.

2. Infected or plugged tear ducts. Use a medicine dropper and add a few drops to the affected eye.

3. Sties. Soak a cotton ball or cloth in warm breast milk and apply to the sty for 10 minutes

4. Contact solution on soft, hard or gas permeable lenses

5. Red, swollen or puffy eyes. Soak a cotton ball in cold breast milk and let sit on eyes for several minutes.

6. Ear infections. Putting a few drops in the ear will promote healing and provide some pain relief.

Nose, Mouth and Throat

7. Stuffy nose. While lying down drop some milk into the nose they same way you'd use a saline solution. If needed use a bulb syringe after the milk sits for a minute or two.

Bonus!

29. Dog food treats. Frozen cubes can be given as treats to your dog, apparently they love it!

Diagnosis Cancer Now What Can I Do?This is the story of one family's journey in finding health care alternatives. It illustrates the choices Cancer patients have to make. Are you wondering what your options are during this stressful time of your life?

For other interesting home remedies check out this fun hub by Thundermama ^_^ She inspired me to write this!

Comments

No HTML is allowed in comments, but URLs will be hyperlinked. Comments are not for promoting your articles or other sites.

sending

FlourishAnyway 3 years agofrom USA

What an interesting list for alternative uses. Although I'm not expecting other children, I will pass this along to someone who is.

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Thelma! Thank you so much for sharing your first hand experience with a super smart mother using her super milk to treat her family ^_^ I appreciate the comment and vote... happy new year to you too ^_^

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Ishwrayaa, thank you so much for all your wonderful support ^_^ I always love hearing from you!

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Shai, Thank you so much for your wonderful support. You comments are fantastic and so appreciated ^_^

Thelma Alberts 4 years agofrom Germany

Wow! I have never thought of this until I read this hub. I remember though when I was a child, my mother put breast milk directly from her breast into my sore eyes. It helped. Thanks for this very informative hub. Voted up and shared. BTW, Happy New Year 2013!

Ishwaryaa Dhandapani 4 years agofrom Chennai, India

An informative and engaging hub with a helpful list of uses! Natural things always work wonders that synthetic things hardly did! Well-done!

Wow, never would have guessed. Thought it was just good for the babies-- great research here. Would not have guessed most of it-- chicken pox? Ease nausea when going through chemo? I say again, wow, to all of these. This is amazing work, great job Voted up & interesting & deserves everything, just amazing.

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Thank you Lipnancy! I enjoyed writing it as well ^_^ I certainly learned a thing or two!

Nancy Yager 4 years agofrom Hamburg, New York

I had no idea that there were any other uses for breast milk. I really enjoyed this hub.

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Jpcmc, I completely agree with you! That is exactly why I added the little disclaimer near the top of the hub. I've checked with my doctor for a few of them and so far she's given me the go ahead ^_^ Thank you for your great comment!

JP Carlos 4 years agofrom Quezon CIty, Phlippines

We can market breastmilk easily! LOL

But moms should always consult doctors and professionals first. The proteins and sugars in the breastmilk can become irritants when not properly used.

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Veronica, Congratulations on you soon to be bundle of joy! Most moms have plenty of milk to spare so have fun using your cure all mommy juice ^_^ Thank you so much for your lovely comment, votes and pin!!

Veronica Roberts 4 years agofrom Ohio, USA

I had no idea! I am awaiting the arrival of my little one anytime now, and will definitely keep this in mind! It's so amazing to me that we have the power to do such great things... naturally! :)

Voted up, useful, interesting, & pinned!

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Thank you Rajan! You are the King of Healthy hubs, I'm so happy you like mine.

Sasha, these are unusual but awesome uses all the same. No doubt breast milk is rated the best milk for babies.

Voted up and interesting.

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Thank you Girishpuri ^_^ I'm thankful for your comment and so happy you liked the hub.

Girish puri 4 years agofrom NCR , INDIA

Great to know that Mother milk is so cure all, great useful hub, thanks.

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Thank you Nell! I wish I would have known when I had my first as well ^_^ Your comment and vote is greatly appreciated!

Nell Rose 4 years agofrom England

Who would have thought it? Wow! it was a long time ago I had my son, I wish I had known all this then! amazing hub, voted up! cheers nell

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

That's what I was thinking too! ^_^

vespawoolf 4 years agofrom Peru, South America

So that's why breast-fed babies thrive!

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Thank you so much Vespa ^_^ I didn't write a background... I should have. There are some explanations as to why these would work. Breast milk is antibacterial and not only inhibits the growth of pathogens but actively reduces them. On top of all the vitamins, enzymes... to promote healing making it just as good as any over the counter ointment. Thank you again, you comment and vote are greatly appreciated!! ^_^

vespawoolf 4 years agofrom Peru, South America

Home remedies are big here in Peru. I've heard of most of these uses for breast milk but wrote them off as myths. Now I have to say, I'm beginning to rethink my closed-minded view! It makes sense, actually, since there could hardly be a more natural food tailored to human needs. Voted up! Another great hub, Mama Kim!

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Alicia, thank you so much for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment ^_^ When you happen to have an abundance of breast milk at your disposal and then read something about how it's supposed to help something that just happens to be an issue... well why not try it, couldn't hurt right? ^_^ I've been very happy with the results so far. Thank you again ^_^

Linda Crampton 4 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

This is very interesting information, Mama Kim 8 - and what I find especially interesting is that you've found that some of these home remedies actually work! I had no idea that breast milk was so useful!

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Of course! Your awesome ^_^

Blurter of Indiscretions 4 years agofrom Clinton CT

Oh wow. I didn't expect a shout out! :) Thanks. :)

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Glad you liked it Michelle ^_^ Thank you for the votes too! I was surprised myself by all the things people claim it's good for ^_^ I've tested some but not all. So far so good!

Michelle Liew 4 years agofrom Singapore

Phew, this is detailed, Kim. Didn't know that breast milk has so many uses! Thanks for the information, votes up and away!

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

# 29, all yours Julie ^_^ thanks again

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Oh wow! That is fantastic Julie! ^_^ I should see if my doggies like them. I bet its great for them too! thank you! Give me a minute.. I'll add that to the hub and with credit to you.

Blurter of Indiscretions 4 years agofrom Clinton CT

This was great!! You forgot one though :P You see, I had frozen breastmilk in ice cube trays, but it got freezer burn and I didn't want to use it. One day, as I was popping them out of the tray, one fell on the floor. My dog ate it up and apparently it was like the equivalent of steak. Every time I opened the freezer, I would give him one of my old freezer burned breastmilk ice cubes (cause I couldn't bear to throw them away). He would come running!! I probably could have made a killing on doggie treats. LOL :P

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Marlene, thank you so much for stopping by ^_^ I know what you mean.. there are a bunch of patients the hospitals use it on that I didn't even mention. I so need to get a "got milk?" tee! ^_^

Marlene Bertrand 4 years agofrom Northern California, USA

Wow! I'm starting to wonder what breast milk would NOT be able to cure. Breast milk adds a whole new meaning to the phrase, "Got milk?"

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Shelley, Wonderful seeing you this morning ^_^ I didn't even know all of these until I did the research, crazy ^_^ Thank you very much for your comment and votes!

Shelley Watson 4 years ago

I would never have thought there could be so many uses for breast milk. Superb job, voted up, interesting and useful.

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Thank you Terrye! Thank you so much for the comment and votes ^_^ love hearing from you.

Terrye Toombs 4 years agofrom Somewhere between Heaven and Hell without a road map.

That is some very interesting ways to use breast milk, Mama Kim. :) Voted up and more. :)

Author

Sasha Kim 4 years ago

Thundermama! I'm so happy you liked it ^_^ I have seborrheic dermatitis, a type of eczema and it helps a ton! Thank you for the comment and vote ^_^

Catherine Taylor 4 years agofrom Canada

Fantastic! Who knew "mommy milk," was such a fantastic cure all. I have a close friend who is nursing who I plan on hitting up for a jar of milk to help with my eczema. Voted way up!